AIR LIQUIDE

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with close to 50,000 employees and serves more than 2 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide’s ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly. Air Liquide’s revenues amounted to € 15.3 billion in 2012, and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented around 40% of sales.

Air Liquide entered the hydrogen energy business with a global approach including production, supply chain, storage and fuelling stations, and even fuel cells. Air Liquide is in the process of developing hydrogen energy application through various projects in Europe, America and Asia. In 2009, Air Liquide launched the H2E program, with twenty partners and an R&D budget of 200 M€ over 7 seven years. The project covers all aspects of the hydrogen chain from “green” production to development of cylinders and fuel cells to demonstration programs.

AIR LIQUIDE is also a key contributor to the development of Regulations Codes and Standards for gas equipment, in particular for high-pressure cylinders, through direct participation to the relevant CEN and ISO working groups (ISO/TC 197 - Hydrogen technology and ISO/TC58 transportable gas cylinders) and with leadership in gas industry's professional associations (EIGA in Europe and CGA in North America).

Key people involved

Lucas BUSTAMANTE-VALENCIA graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 2002. He worked as mechanical engineer for 3 years in the environmental field. He carried out a Master degree on combustion at the University of Rouen and a PhD on pyrolysis of plastics and fire safety at the Pprime Institute (formerly LCD/CNRS) in Poitiers (France). He worked as research engineer for various fire safety projects in LNE and CERIB. He joined Air Liquide R&D in 2010 and works on Hydrogen composite storages resistance to thermal load or mechanical impacts.